Fuel-feeding mechanism



A. G. ELVIN, A. B. FAHNESTOCK AND F. H. CLARK.

FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28. I918.

Patented Ma 3,1921.

INVENTORS WITNESSES M v fill 12W w y A. e. ELVIN, A. B. FAHN ESTOCK AND F. H. CLARK. FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 050.28, 19l8- 1,376,521 Patented May 3, 1921.

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FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM APPLICATION men DEC.28. 191a.

Patented May 3, 1921.

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INVENTORS M A. G. ELVIN, A. B. FAHNESTOCK AND F. H. CLARK. FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.28| 1918- 1,376,521

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

- WITNESSES 7' INVENTOHS, E 2, 0% v'Z/,@M, fiYiA/WZ/r) Patented May 3, 1921.

A. G. ELVIN, A. B. FAHNESTOCK AND F. H. CLARK.

FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM- APPLICATION FILED DEC.28| I918.

Patented May 3, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' 6MENTORS v -m/o,

, in section, of the adjoining ALBERT G. ELVIN, OF FRANK H. CLARK,

PLANDOME, ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK, OF GREAT NECK, AND OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELVIN, MECHANICAL STOKER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FUEL-FEEDING NIECHANISMI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May. 3, 1921.

Application filed December 28, 1918. Serial No. 268,635.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, ALBERT G. ELVIN, of Plandome, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, ADAM B. FAHNESTOOK, of Great Neck, in said county and State, and FRANK H. CLARK, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have jointly invented a certain new and useful Improvement in F uel-Feeding Mechanism, of which improvement the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to appliances for feeding fuel in fragmentary condition, or other disintegrated material, in variable quantities, from a supply receptacle to a desired delivery receptacle, and, while more particularly designed for, application in connection with mechanical stokers for steam boiler furnaces, of the type in which the fuel is projected into the furnace by vibratory fuel carrying and throwing shovels, is not limitedto such specific application, as it may be desirably utilized in apparatus of other descriptions, for the performance of a similar function.

The object of our invention is to provide means, of simple and inexpensive construction, whereby disintegrated material, as coal, may be delivered from a supply receptacle in which it is stored, to a conveyer or analogous appliance for transferring or conveying it to a location at which it is discharged, for utilization, from the conveying means; the delivery from the supply receptacle being effected either uniformly, or in greater or less quantities, as may be desired, and being wholly independent of the speed of traverse of the conveying means.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly portions of a coupled locomotive and tender, equipped with a mechanical stoker in which our invention is applied; Fig. 2, a side view, partly in section and on an enlarged scale, of the feeding mechanism and conveyer casing; Fig. section through the same; Fig. 4, a plan or top view; Fig. 5, a front view, in elevation, of the operating mechanism; Fig. 6, a

plan view of the feeder driving shaft actu- 3, a vertical longitudinal centralating device; Fig. 7, a front View of the sliding or movable member thereof; 8, a rear view of the rocking jaw, and Fig. 9, a vertical transverse section through the feeding and conveying mechanism, on the line m w of Fig. 2.

Referring descriptively to the specific embodiment of our invention which is herein exemplified, it is illustrated as applied in connection with a mechanical stoker of the type hereinbefore referred to, as exemplified in Letters Patent of the United States, No 1,267,644, granted and issued to Albert G. Elvin aforesaid, for himself and as assignee of Adam B. Fahnestock and Frank H.

Clark, aforesaid, under date of May 28, 1918. As in'said Letters Patent, a locomotive engine (indicated as a Whole by B) is coupled to a tender (indicated as a whole by A) by a draw bar C, and a mechanical stoker, which is not claimed as of our present invention, is shown, for mechanically conveying fuel from the coal space, a, of the tender, to the firing door opening of the firebox, b, of the locomotive, and intermittently projecting apportioned quantities of the fuel into the firebox.

In the practice of our invention, the feeding mechanism proper is located immediately below the forward portion of the coal space, a, of the tender, and is of substantially the following construction: A longitudinall extending open topped feeder casing or c amber is secured to the lower side of the floor plate, a, of the coal space, below a longitudinal supply passage, 00 therein, vsaid casing comprising two inclined side plates, 34, supported by brackets, 35, and vertical end plates, 36, 36. The bottom of the feeder casing is open, and is-located above an inclined sided receiving hopper, 2, which is open, at bottom, to a trough, 2, in which a conveyer, which may be of any suitable and preferred construction, one

form of which is hereinafter described, is

fitted to operate.

An agitator, 37 which is movable transversely to the longitudinal central plane of the tender is in the form of a grating, having a plurality of apertures for the passage of coal and is divided longitudinally into two sections, to facilitate insertion and removal, is supported in the feeder casing,

immediatel' the coal space of the tender, on bars, 37*, to WhlCh it is bolted, said bars extending across the feeder casing and fitting freely in guide blocks, 38, secured to the supporting bracke'ts, 35,0f the feeder. casing.

A stationary deflector plate, 39, the sides of which are outwardl and downwardly inclined from a flat middle portion, is sup- *ported in the feed casing, below' the agitatwo sections, which are tor, 37, at a distance approximately equal to the width of the openings therein. The deflector plate extends throughout the length of the feeder casing, and is connected to, and supported by, the end plates thereof.

A drop plate, 40, which is movable transversel to the feeder casing, coincidently with, u't'in opposite direction to the movements of the agitator, 37 is connected to transversely extending bearing plates, 41, immediately below the open bottom of the feeder casing. The drop plate is formed in connected by crossties, 40", and are separated, throughout their length, for such distance as to provide between them a delivery passage for fuel, whlch is located above the open top of the conveyor trough, 2. The bearing plates, '41,

are secured to transverse bars, 42, which are I supported, adjustabli as to their height, on the supporting brac ets, 35, of the feeder q casing.

Reciprocating movement, transversely to the feeder'casing, is imparted to the agitator, 37, and drop plate, 43, coincidently, but in opposite directions, rock shaft, 44, which is. journaled in bearm at one side of the feeder casin and is vi rated b I connections to a suitab e 'rime mover, which, in the instance exempli ed, is a flu d pressure motor, 5, which motor also actuates the conveyer as hereinafter described. The rock shaft, 44, carries sets of oppositely projecting arms, 44 and 44 which are coup ed, respectively, by links, 45 and 46, to the agitator, 37, and the drop plate, 40. A short crank, 5, on a shaft, 2 m, rotated, through gearing, by the shaft, 5, of the motor, is coupled by a link, 5 to an arm, 47, which is fitted freely on the rock shaft, 44, and is caused to vibrate said shaft through a greater or less range of traverse, or to remain inert, as thecase may be, by a manually adjustable coupling mechanism.

,The driving shaft 5*, of the motor, is cou pled, by a universal joint, to a shaft, 14,

which carries a spur gear, 29, enga 'ng acorresponding gear, 5 on the sha 2",

which is journaled in a bearing on the tender, arid coupled by a universal joint, to

a shaft, 2 which shaft, throughconnections hereinafter describe actuates the con ve er, 2. I

he pecific construction of coup ng below the floor plate, a, of

below the top thereof respectively, from a mechanism through which the extent" of traverse of'the rock shaft by which the -ag'i tator and deflector plate are actuated, may

be varied, or its traverse be entirely stopped,

asmay from time to time be desired, is not an essential of our invention, as other mechanisms', suitable for the purpose, may be substituted without departure therefrom.

Said specificconstruction will be sufiiciently for Letters Patent, filed by Adam B. Fahnestock aforesaid, January 2, 1919-,- Ser. No.

"Referring to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, in the instance, exemplified, the arm, 47, which, as

before stated, is fitted freely on the rock shaft, 44, has a hub-in the form of a clutch coupling jaw member, 47, which'is so recessed as to provide jaw bearing radial faces,

' 47 which faces are outwardly inclined in the direction of the axis of the rock shaft, -as clearly shown in Fig. 6. A sleeve coupllng member, 48,is fitted to slide longitudinally on a key or feather, 44*, on the shaft, 44, so

as to transmit any vibratory movement that 1 may be imparted to it, to said shaft. The

end of the member, 48, which is nearer the member, 47, is provided with v tapered tongues, 48", adapted to engage the jaws of the member, 47, by longitudinal movement of the member, 48. The maximum width of. the angular recesses in the jaw member,.47,

is equal to the length of the arc traversed by the periphery of the hub, in each vibratory movement thereof about the axis of the rock shaft, 44, added to the width of the outer.

end of a tongue of the sleeve member 48. When the latter is moved onthe rock shaft into the position shown in Fig. 6, 1n whlch only the outer ends of the tongues, 48 enter the angular recesses" of the member, 4%, the

vibratory movements imparted to the arm, 47, from the crank, 5, .and its connectlons with the driving motor, 5, will not be transmitted to the rock shaft, 44, which, with the connected agitator, 37, and drop. plate, 40, will consequently remain statlonary When, however, the member, 48, is moved along.

the rock shaft until its tongues engage the jaws of the member, 47*, vibratory movement will be imparted to the rock shaft, the

extent of such movement being greater or less, proportionately to the depth to which the tongues enter the angular recesses, and being at its maximum, determined by the throw of the crank, 5, when the tongues are entered to the full depth of the recesses.

The longitudinal adjustment OfiJhGCOtlping member, 48, on therock shaft, 44, is

manually effected, as may, from time to movement of said members, whenever,

time, be desired, by a vertical shaft, 49, which is journaled in bearings on the tender, adjacent to the front of the feeder casing, and carries, on its upper end, an operating handle, 49 which is adapted to engage a locking segment, 49. The lower end of the shaft, 49, is provided with a crank, arm, 49,

which is coupled, by a link, 50, to one arm of bell crank lever, 51, the other arm of which is coupled to the sleeve member, 48. By proper movement of the operating handle, the member, 48, may be adjusted in position to impart the maximum, minimum, or any desired intermediate degree of traverse to the rock shaft and connected agitator and drop plate, or to cause the entire cessation 05 for such periods, variation or cessation of movements may be desired. It will be seen that this control of the traverse of the agitator and drop plate, in performing their feeding function, is wholly independent of the movement of the conveying mechanism. The conveyer proper, 2, of the specific conveying mechanism which is herein exemplified, is of the screw type, and formed in two sections, the rear one of which is fitted to rotate in open topped trough, 2 secured rigidly to the tender and having an inclined sided receiving hopper, 2, at its top, located in position to receive the coal, which falls by gravity into it, from the delivery passage of the drop plate, 40. A split socket, 2 is fixed to the forward end of the conveyer, and a ball member, 2 secured on the rear end of a tubular conveyer casing, 2, is fitted in said socket. The conveyer casing, 2 extends forwardly to the lowersection of a shovel box, 9, secured to the back head of the firebox, b, of the locomotive, and coal which is delivered to the shovel box from said casing, is projected into the firebox, by two vibratory fuel carrying and throwing shovels, 11 as in Letters Patent No. 1,267,644 aforesaid; The shaft, 2 of. the conveyer, is, similarly to the conveyer casing, formed in two sections, which are connected by a universal joint, which, in connection with the ball joint of the conveyer casing. prevents disturbance of the operation of the conveyer by relative lateral or vertical movements of the locomotive and tender.

The rear end of the conveyer shaft, which is journaled in a bearing, 2*, carries a spur gear, 2 which engages a corresponding gear, 2, on a shaft, 2", connected, by a universal joint, to a shaft, 2, which is, in turn, connected, by a universal joint, to the shaft, 2, which, as before described, is rotated by the motor, 5. The gears, 2 and 2 are inclosed in a casing, 2, having a removable p bearing, 2 for the rear end of the conveyer shaft. The forward end of the casing, 2, is

which is recessed to receive a thrust recessed to receive a packing, 2, which is pressed closely around the shaft by a sleeve, 2 subject to the pressure of a spring, 2 which is adjusted by a cap, 2". By this construction,coal dust is prevented from entering the gear casing, 2, around the conveyer shaft. I

Our invention is not limited to the embodiment of the specific form of conveying mechanism herein described and shown, as any other" suitable and preferred means of conveying or transferring disintegrated material from a feeding mechanism to a location of delivery, which is operable, inclependently of the operation of the feeding mechanism, may be substituted, without departure from'the spirit and operative principle of'our invention.

In the operation of a mechanism accord- I ing, in its characteristic and essential features, with that herein set forth, the agitator, 37, and drop plate, 40,being coincidently reciprocated, transversely to the feed casing, in opposite directions, respectively, coal will be delivered from the coal space of the tender to the conveying mechanism, on alternately opposite sides of the deflector plate, 39, and the rate of feed will be directly proportionate to the range of traverse imparted to the agitator and drop plate, and will be entirely discontinued when these members are allowed to remain stationary. When the agitator moves in either direction, the coal willnot pass down the opposite side of the deflector plate, the flow being stopped by the flat top of the plate and closed por tion of the agitator. As the coal falls into the space between the deflector plate and the sides of the casing, it assumes a sloping surface, the angle of which, as determined by the inclined sides ofthe deflector, is so slightthat it will not fall through the passage in the drop plate. Any movement of said plate allows coal to drop through said passage, the amount being proportioned to the traverse of the plate, and while the plate moves to one side. as to the right, the coal is fed from the right hand side of the feed casing, and the movement of the agitator prevents coal from dropping into the left hand side of the casing.

A special feature of advantage in the practical operation of our invention, is the I capacity of accurately regulating the amount of feed in a given period, between zero and any determined maximum within the ca-. pacity of the conveying mechanism, orentirely discontinuing the supply, independently of the operation of the conveying' mechanism. Substantial objection has been experienced in the operation of mechanical in cold weather. Under our invention, the can be completely g stopped, by disthe operation of the feeding conveying mechanism cleared of goal before be continuing mechanism; v

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an apparatus for transferring disintegrated material from a supplyv'receptacle toa delivery location, the combination of a feed casing, having a supply and a delivery passage at its top and bottom, respectively; a grated agitator and a drop plate, controlling, respectively, the supply and the deliver passages of the casing; a stationary de ector plate, having inclined sides interposed between the agitator and the drop plate; means for coincldently reciprocating the agitator and drop plate, in opposite directions, respectively, and means for varying the extent of movements of the agitator and drop Iplate.

2. 11 an apparatus for transferring disintegrated material from a supply receptacle to a delivery location, the combination of a feed casing, having receiving and delivery passages in its top and bottom, respectively; a grated agitator, whi ch is movabletransversely in said casing, adjacent to its top; a stationary deflector plate havin inclined sides extending longitudinally and centrally through said casing, below, and

adjacent to, the agitator; a drop plate, having a longitudinal middle discharge passage, and adapted to move'transve'rsely to sald casing, below, and adjacent to the bottom thereof, and means for coincidently reciprocatingl the agitator and drop-plate, in opposite 'rections, respectively.

3. In an apparatus for transferring disintegrated material from a supply receptacle to a delivery location, the combination having receiving and delivery passages in its top and bottom, res ectively; a grated agitator, which is, mova le transversely in said casing, adjacent to its top; a stationary deflector platehaving inclined sides, extendin longitudinally and centrally through sai cas1ng, below, and adjacent to, the agitator; a drop plate, having a longitudinal middle discharge passage, and adapted to move transversely to tory movement to the conveyer casing located said casing, below and ad'acent to, the bottom thereof; a longitu inally extending rock shaft, journaled at one side, of the easoppositely extending arms fixed on said rock shaft; links coupling said arms to the agitator and the rock shaft,'respectively; power actuated means for impartm vibrarock shaft an means for'varying the extent of movements of agitator and drop plate. v

a 4. In an apparatus for transferring disintegratedtmaterial from a supply receptaale to a delivery location, the combination of a feed casing, having a supply and.-de-- livery passage at its top and bottom, respectively; a grated agitator and a drop "plate,

controlling, respectively, the supply and the dellver passages of the casing; a stationary de ector plate, having inclined sides in terposed between the'agitator and the drop plate; means for coincidently reciprocating the agitator and drop plate, in op osite directions, respectively; and means or varying and intermitting the traverse of sald agitator and drop plate,

5'. In an apparatus for transferring disintegrated material from a supply receptacle to a-- delivery location, the combination of a feed casing, having asupply and a delivery passage at 'spectively; a grated agitator and a drop plate, controlling, respectively, the supply and the delivery passages of the casing; a stationary deflector p ate, interposed between the agitator and the drop plate; a below, and in line with, the delivery passage of the casing; a conveyer traversing in said casing; a motor; connections through which said motor imparts reciprocating movement, in opposite directions, to the agitator and drop plate, and independently actuates the conveyor; and means for varying and intermitting the traverse of the agltator and drop plate, independently of the movement of the conve er.

y ALBERT G. ELVIN.

ADAM B. FAHNESTOOK. FRANK H. CLARK. Witnesses:

' E. GOODMAN,

. A. M. LINDENSTRUTH.

its top and bottom, re-' 

